Monthly Archives: February 2009

The economy of the United States (and increasingly, the rest of the world) is tanking because we have an economic system that confuses money with wealth. This shows up in a number of ways. One of the most obvious is the idea that money “makes” money. It does not.

Of course, to understand this we first need first to understand that money is not wealth. Money is a tool that we use to control wealth. Wealth is the stuff that has inherent value to us: clean air, clean water, wholesome and nutritious food, clothing, safe shelter, companionship, good health, meaningful occupation.

Many of these items can be made available or enhanced by stuff, and hence, by having money. But money does not make any of these things, it merely helps or encourages some of us to provide these through a combination of natural resources and human effort.

People who “invest” their money in financial instruments (stocks, bonds, etc.) are doing so based on the erroneous belief that money makes money. That is the basis of all pyramid and Ponzi schemes. Eventually, the “investments” collapse of their own over-extension.

That is what happened in 1929, and a number of times since then. That is what is happening now.

As a species, we are facing challenges never before experienced by human beings.

Will Newman II

Generally, we don’t talk about them. Most if us are too busy simply getting through the day.

This is an opportunity to learn more about these challenges, and possible responses, and to discuss these things.

Discussing them is important because while we all all ignorant, we are ignorant about different things. By discussing the things that concern us we increase our understanding, and the possibility that we will be able to find or develop positive responses.

Some of the challenges we face about which we are grossly ignorant are: population; the impending end of cheap energy; economies based on the fatally flawed principle of unending growth; gross mal-distribution of wealth and access to resources; the privatization of military forces, prisons, law enforcement, and traditionally public utilities; and the increasing control of governments by corporations whose economic activity exceeds that of most nations.

We can positively address these challenges, but not with the level of ignorance about these matters that marks public discourse today.

If we are to meet these challenges, we need to increase understanding in ourselves and our neighbors, and lead our governmental representatives into a future that is reasoned, equitable, possible and sustainable.

We need to talk, to discuss, to disagree, to learn, to lessen our ignorance, and to come to common understanding. And we need to do it in a civil manner.